Daniela Arias
January 27, 2016
Period 7
Children in Ancient China
Children in Ancient China had different expectations laid out for them, mostly dependent on gender and age. One of the most important values instilled in children was respect. Children were expected to respect authority figures above all, but also to respect those in their immediate family. Religion and philosophies in Ancient China played a major role in what was expected of Chinese children. Expectations also varied depending on the child’s social status. Confucianism in particular is acknowledged as the major influence in the daily lives of Chinese people, but especially children. One of the most important aspects of a child’s life in any setting is their ability to
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One of the many developments of this time was the establishment of public schools in order to carefully instruct boys for the civil service. Early education played a major role in preparing children to eventually serve for the state. Additionally, it was necessary to ensure their loyalty to the state as early as possible as a means of strengthening the empire. Around 74 BCE the role of women started to come into question. However, educated women were thought as a threat to the stability of the dynasty. This was met with increased pressure on girls to assume traditional societal roles. Education for women differed in terms of the general purpose. Men were urged to pursue a rigorous education and expected to eventually rise to important governmental positions or to join the military, but education for women was not as focused and did not have such an endgoal. However, some were beginning to question why women were not given the same opportunities. It was becoming clear that women could not be ignored- Ban Chao was a general of the Eastern Han dynasty (32 AD-102 AD). He is quoted as saying:
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Similarly, American and Chinese culture teach self-conduct when raising children. In Chinese culture they practice Guan, which is to educate, care, control, support and love. This practice follows Confucianism, which is criticism to encourage to push them to gain social values and is a very strict action. China continues to make every effort to reach for success.
In discussions about raising children in different cultures between Chinese and Western families, Chinese mothers and Western mothers raise their children differently from each other. Amy Chua, in her essay entitled “How Chinese Mothers Are Superior,” argues that Chinese mothers are extremely more strict and harsh when it comes to parenting their children’s self-esteem while Chinese mothers do not while they assume “strength, not fragility” from their children. She also believes that it is necessary to limit the children in their daily lives in order to achieve greatness and honor to their family. Amy Chua is led to this conclusion due to research and examples of her own life as a Chinese daughter as well. My own view on the issue is that Chinese
Women in ancient Rome and China were very different but quite similar as for as their treatment and roles were concerned. In both cultures they were under the protection of their fathers until they married. When they married they were to stay home and be wives, they were not formally educated and learned to manage their households. They were not allowed to disgrace their families in any way and were inferior to men from the moment of birth. Chinese women whether from a noble or a poor family could not escape oppression, but it was somewhat easier for the women from Noble families. (8) Comparing the women of Ancient Rome (750BC – AD500) and the women of China (350BC – AD600), from the roles they played in
Women living during the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty lived in a society where gender roles were strictly imposed. The Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty existed in two distinctive time periods, but the roles of women were indistinguishable between the pair. The Han Dynasty existed from 206 BCE-220 CE, while the Roman Empire lasted from 27 CE-476 CE. The treatment women received in the Han and Roman societies were all based on gender and stereotypes. Women’s roles in marriage, domestic life, and society in the Roman Empire and Han China portrayed their limited freedom and voice.
In both the Han Dynasty and the Roman Empire, women were seen as delicate figures and had limited political freedom. Women in Han China were required to be accompanied and led by a male, whether
During the Song Dynasty (960–1279) in Ancient China, the gender in which a person was born as, changed their whole path of life. Their role in society, their education, their power in the household were very different depending on if they were male or female. A typical female had much less power compared to a man; they were considered the inferior gender. It was unfair, and to an extend, cruel, the way that women were treated compared to a man, but during that time in China, it was so normal that no one questioned it. The roles that each gender held were rigid, quite different, and clearly not equal. As China gained power during this time and became more powerful, women were greatly downgraded by men because men were thought to be the ones
Before analyzing the status of girls and women in ancient China, we need to understand the fundamental principles of morality that dominated in the society in that time period.
The transition from the Qin Dynasty to the Han Dynasty brought about many changes in ideology. The Han Dynasty’s rise to power brought with it the rise of Confucianism, and this gave the people of China more rights and freedom compared to their life under the Qin Dynasty. Confucian principles emphasized loyalty, respect for superiority, education, and the welfare of a group over the individual. Comparing Han China to Qin China, Lu Jia said, “When the people only feared the laws, they could not know rites and rightness.” The emphasis of Confucianism in Han China led to the construction of schools to offer more widespread education. This embedded a philosophy within the Chinese people that revolved around Ren and Yi, ideas
After China had been conquered by the Mongols and their population was diminished by the plague, they began to look to into their past in order to shape their future. The Chinese society allowed “two empresses [write] instructions for female behavior” (423). These behaviors included those that were held previously to the Chinese women and were seen as “traditional expectations” (423). Much of the Chinese culture was changed due to the rule of the Mongol Empire. Because of this, China attempted to put an end to any evidence of foreign rule from the Mongol Empire. This included the “[discouragement] [of] the use of Mongol names and dress” (423). This discouragement of the Mongol traditions provided China the opportunity to reintroduce the concept of Confucian learning. This is another
3) Document 3: The state of Qin's rulers believes in a political philosophy called the Legalism that justifies the strict central control and the use of the people to promote Qin, so they focused on huge construction projects and conquest. The Qin court succeeded in uniting the empire and maintaining control for 15 years. They have standardized the writing system, money, measurements, and built a lot of infrastructures. Their large-scale construction projects helped to flourish later.
How bitter the words were! If a child never get mother’s acclaim and encouragement, how sorrowful one’s heart feels! Here comes a contrasting comparison of western and Chinese parenting—western parents encourage and praise their child much more often than Chinese parents do. This encouragement helps them create new ideas, independent opinions, developing unique and sparkling characters. Whereas Chinese parents believe in the old saying, “a strict teacher produces outstanding students”, strictness and criticism are important educating guide lines for Chinese parents, which results in obedience and collectivism, compromise, no psyche and no guts to say no. But on the other hand, Chinese do behave better in harsh and high-pressured condition due to their strict training in childhood.
This proves that the ancient Chinese people from the Han empire were innovative. They were the first empire to use iron. They also made silk from silkworm fiber, spinning it with a foot-powered machine. This was great for their economy because they traded with other empires and created the “Silk Road”. The Chinese from the Han were also known for their copper work and salt. To mine salt, they made bamboo drill. When they hit a salt water mine, the drill would suck up the water then they brought to poll to the surface and boiled the water until there was only salt. With iron they made swords and fishscale armour (insert image) and long iron swords. The fishtail armour and sword were good for warfare. The armour allowed whomever is wearing
Initially, women were not supposed to participate in anything besides the domestic side of life. However, these ideas about women and their roles in society started to crumble as some women took their fate into their own hands and gained power in China. Empress Wu Zetain was one of the key figures during the Tang Dynasty who proved that women could do more than just take care of their homes. She was the only female to take on the role of emperor, and do so successfully. Although she was ruthless and did anything to gain and keep her power, she paved the way for feminism in China.
Confucianism and Daoism are two influential schools of thoughts that have existed in ancient China around the 6th century BCE. The former, led by the politician and philosopher Confucius, proposed that humans live in society according to a set of predefined rules and that they transform society through political action. Whereas the latter, led by the philosopher Lao-Tzu, promoted the idea of inaction; people should go with the flow instead of taking action to control their lives and dominate their surroundings. Although, at first glance Daoism and Confucianism seem to be two opposing philosophies, a more in depth analysis of two of their key ideas –filial piety and education—reveals that they do share some similarities.
When Western people think of Confucianism, they often think of it in a past sense- as something only relevant to ancient China that cannot be applied to modern day society. However, what these people fail to realize is that Confucianism’s roots have been so integrated into China’s society that the values have become a part of every day life. Without having to explicitly state that they are following specifics aspects of Confucianism, most Chinese people submit to them, often times unknowingly. However, Confucian values not only exist in the Chinese society, but also permeate into other areas of Chinese culture such as architecture and aspects of Feng-Shui.